The culture in which we live determines the way we learn. Accordingly, the culture of learning is subject to constant change. With a view to digitalization, more personal responsibility - and yes, even the pandemic - there are more new needs and ideas for knowledge transfer than ever before. In order to optimally reach learners and those willing to learn, it is no longer enough to rely on face-to-face events or webinars to impart knowledge. It's the mix that counts. Under the 'Future of Learning' vision, Siemens is pursuing a holistic approach that combines synchronous (guided) and asynchronous (independent) learning. The first concrete steps in this direction can already be found in the portfolio of Sitrain, Siemens' Digital Industry Academy.

The change in 'learning'

'Flexible learning', 'digital learning', 'learning 4.0', 'agile learning', 'blended learning' or 'distance learning' - a lot has happened in the field of learning in recent years as a result of digitalization and a new knowledge culture. New terms have emerged, some with different definitions, others with synonymous meanings. This development has certainly also been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic that emerged at the beginning of 2020 and is still ongoing.

With its 'Future of Learning' vision, Siemens is focusing on greater personal responsibility in the learning process.

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Siemens summarizes this trend as the 'Future of Learning', whereby the 'future' is already finding its way into many of the Group's services. The aim of the new learning concepts, methods and approaches is to provide learners with flexible learning opportunities that meet their needs. In combination with more personal responsibility in the learning process, this should ensure better, more sustainable and faster learning success.

When, what, where - independent learning using different learning formats

"Our vision is to blur the boundaries between synchronous and asynchronous learning and align them with the moment of need," explains Philipp Rieckborn, Head of the Digital Industry Academy at Siemens. "A modern learning culture plays a decisive role here: it enables individual, situational and targeted learning, for which the content is optimally prepared didactically and conveyed using various methods. Access to knowledge must be easy and learning should be fun!"

Logically, the Sitrain portfolio is also based on these guiding principles. The service includes various formats for conveying learning content. "With Sitrain, our customers decide for themselves how they want to acquire their knowledge. The differentiation of our learning formats is primarily based on the method, not the content," emphasizes Rieckborn. By 'learning formats', the expert means the three Sitrain areas Sitrain open (knowledge database), Sitrain access (digital learning platform) and Sitrain personal (guided training, virtual or on-site). Depending on the characteristics of the knowledge to be imparted and the specific 'moment of need', the content is offered according to the optimal method for the appropriate format, i.e. complex topics can be imparted using several channels. In this article, Sitrain open is presented in more detail in the context of the 'Future of Learning'.

Knowledge database Sitrain open - Targeted problem solving with an active community

Knowledge open and freely accessible from anywhere. Siemens is pursuing this approach with the Sitrain open knowledge database.

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The Sitrain open knowledge database provides learners with support knowledge that they can use to solve a specific problem in a targeted manner. The content is made up of specific product information and answers to recurring questions. The most relevant types of content for knowledge transfer and learning are technical information on the latest products, FAQs and thousands of application examples. In addition to the applicative approach, these are characterized by concrete code and software modules that can be downloaded free of charge, adapted and integrated into your own systems. The latter are created by around 70 Siemens experts. This means that the database is constantly growing.

In the Technical Forum, the associated virtual community, both Siemens-internal and external experts are available, who sometimes also take on a moderator role.

Easy access to extensive knowledge

Sitrain open can be accessed by any user free of charge and without registration. "We see Sitrain open as a freely available knowledge database for our products," says Rieckborn. "Most of the content is located in Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS). Anyone can access this via a browser and the specially developed app (iOS & Android)."

Users can then voluntarily register to access their individual 'mySupport' area with additional personalized functions. "Since users primarily use Sitrain open to answer an immediate question and gather the information themselves, I would speak of situational or 'informal' learning in the context of learning culture, as it happens more incidentally while the user is solving a problem, i.e. 'learning by doing'," says Rieckborn. A subtle but important difference to the self-learning modules in Sitrain access, for which Sitrain open provides specific further information.

You can find out more about Sitrain access in part 2 of the article series, which will appear in the e-paper of issue 5 of Computer&AUTOMATION on May 20.

The article series

Sitrain consists of three learning formats: the knowledge database, the digital learning platform and training courses.

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This series of articles about the digital learning platform Sitrain from Siemens describes the individual elements of the platform:

• Part 1: Sitrain open - the knowledge database
• Part 2: Sitrain access - the digital learning platform
• Part 3: Sitrain personal - guided training, virtual or on-site (to be published on May 31, 2021)

Part 4 of the article series is separate from the learning platform and describes how the Siemens Vizendo Virtual Training Solutions offering can be used to train employees individually based on a digital training environment.